New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-30
TWO PILLARS OF THE TURF.
MEN WHO HAVE DONE MUCH FOR RACING


SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPERIENCES
OF D. D. wITHERs AND JUDGE A. G. Monsoon.
Some one, speaking to Colonel Lewis NJ. Clark,
president of the Louisville Jockey Club, on racing
matters referred to the fact that in horse
owners have acted judges In races In which they
were directly interested. "Why, Colonel" he said
Indignantly, have seen Mr. Withers in the judges
stand when his own horses the track. That ~
/" Hold en-" Interrupted Colonel Clark you are
mistaken. You never in your lite d. d. Withers
near the iudges stand when his horses running
have heard Of such Judges but he is not OF them He
would be the last the world to suspect of such
thing"
Colonel Clark spoke as man who knew Mr..
Withers, and words echoed tn, opinions of all who
know the person who has been held the pattern
OF what turtnau ought TO be- And did any one ever
hear OF his making bet on a race or OF his even
appearing deeply interested in the result OF contest
OF course he likes his ominous black colors in
the 'front.' but tner coming in last doesn't seem to
bother him bit. When asked what bro ugnt him on
the turf he says he doesn't know he has been gong
TO races ever SINCE ne could walk He must be to-day
IN the neighborhOOd OF sixty or slxty-fve Perhaps
al first glance one would take him to he seventy his
face so colure bis eyebrows white and his hair
and it Is doubtful If be has cultivated mustuche since
he was clerk. fifty years ago. He is short man and
almost stocky having Just about enough avoirdupois
to look comfortable His shoulders are bowed with
age and desk work. and he walks with perceptibe
stoop aud an indifferent lifting up and putting forward
OF the feet that cause him to seem older than he is
OF this sketch he put his glasses and looked over
the inquisltor with some amazement. 1t was several
seconds before he spoke.
Oh my dear SIR" he said at length. don't want
any notoriety; got enOugh-more than | want,
ALREADY ALREADY II you give me any more III sell out my
another thing to do with the turf"
gOod-natured smile grew on his face while he
spoke and threatened His friends.and scquaintances
Am HI knan tal1rs 81. r
three years.. But he promised. no matter what
happened to bring his horses season so here
COOS short sketch of him. stolen here and there in
fragments.
he is the of Reuben Withers. we'll known in his
lifetime the president OF the Bank OF the State OF
Nev-York and one OF the fashionable residents OF tine
Old Secondhand, the Fitth-ave. of those days. He was
brought up to business and at early age became
clerk 10 the large shipping house of Rowland Aspin
wall, where his promotion rapid that while vet
q boy he was sent to New Orleans as agent tor the
firm There he soon set up tor himsef dealing in
cotton and buying and selling plantations 10 Louisiana
and Mississippi The habits OF business acquired in
the North gave him certain advantage the slow
going merchants OF the South and by making the
OF his opportunities he soon acquired a fortune He
was in New Orleans when the broke out bis
father the side OF the North, but his SYM
pathies were with the people OF the South among
whom he had lived and grown rich He besitated
what course to pursue and finally decided to 20
abroad. During the long strife he remained in Eng
land and upon tho Continent the races oil the
great Gladat.ur the first French bred horse that won
the Derby 1SG5), and returned TO New-York IN 1866.
In Ne VI Orleans he had been a member of O iockey
club but not identified with racing interests in the
East until his return from Europe when he was in
vted Join In the the organization of the American
Jockey Club. At its first meeting he was chosen one
OF governors and he has held that Office since
In partnership with John +. Purdy he bought q
strag OF racehorses, and at became prominent
IN turf circles From mis- familiarity with rules of
racing he has been called the American Admiral Rous
Nearly all the rules now governing the runDing of
horses in the East and. indeed in the United States
drafted by him. He is the acknowledged Amer
lean authority such matters Mr.. Withers
never known to gamble race he runs his horses
solely for his own amusement. His racing establish
meOt at Brookdae " is q IN tdel one The fars.l OF
some 800 lies q few miles from Monmouth Park
and is devoted exclusively to the support Of the stable
Everything that his horses require in tho shape OF
food grown there and not dollars worh of produce
goes market. The buildings in which thorough
breds are housed big handsome structures, tar
better than the nome of the average Jerseyman.
What are the characteristics OF the man Here is
one When his father making his will he went to
him and asked to be lett out of il. | am rich
already" he said leave your property to my
brothers and sisters" II done as he said and lie
never inherited dollar. But he made executor
OF tue will and since his fathers death has been
guardian OF the family estate in which he hes 10
pecunaiy interest TIE elder Withers owned, In |
became president and manager OF that com pany.
The Offices have been great burden upon hin but he
is at last enabled to escape from the edium of bust
by the sale OF the terry franchise TO syndicate
in ~hch Austin Corbin and the Vanderbilts are |
interested. begin to breathe freely-Inore freely
than for twenty years." no said in response to a |
INSTRUMENTATION upon his release.
Mr.. Witbers IL bachelor and II ID ale ,ed that he
doesn't know what disposition to make Of his large
Droperty,